# US 11,076,726 B2 · Multi-ply resilient tissue products

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- Number: US 11,076,726 B2
- Document ID: US11076726B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/800,766
- Filed: 2020-02-25
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-22
- Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Inventors: Kevin Joseph Vogt; Mark Alan Burazin; Jeffrey Dean Holz; Mark William Sachs; Priya Pari Bhagat
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076726B2

## CPC

- A47K 10/16: Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
- B32B 3/28: characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet {, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane}, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B29/08 takes precedence)
- B32B 5/00: Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure {, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts}
- B32B 5/06: characterised by a fibrous {or filamentary} layer {mechanically connected, e.g. by needling} to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
- B32B 7/08: by mechanical means
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 29/005: {next to another layer of paper or cardboard layer}
- D21F 11/006: {Making patterned paper}
- D21H 25/02: Chemical or biochemical treatment (D21H25/18 takes precedence)
- D21H 27/002: {Tissue paper; Absorbent paper (D21H21/22, D21H27/02, D21H27/20 take precedence; toilet paper A47K10/00; absorbent pads for physiological fluids A61L15/16; making on paper-making machines D21F11/00)}
- D21H 27/02: Patterned paper (patterned coatings D21H19/66; embossing B31F1/07; prepared on the paper-making machines D21F11/00)
- D21H 27/40: at least one of the sheets being non-planar, e.g. crêped (crêping or corrugating paper B31F)
- B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric}
- B32B 2250/02: 2 layers
- B32B 2250/26: All layers being made of paper or paperboard
- B32B 2307/50: having particular mechanical properties
- B32B 2307/56: Damping, energy absorption
- B32B 2307/718: Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
- B32B 2432/00: Cleaning articles, e.g. mops or wipes
- B32B 2535/00: Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter
- B32B 2555/02: Diapers or napkins
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- D21F: PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21H: PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The present invention provides tissue webs and products having improved z-directional properties. The improved z-directional properties may be achieved by providing the structure with a unique three-dimensional surface topography, which increases the structure's Exponential Compression Modulus (K) and Caliper Under Load (C0). By improving both K and C0, the present inventors have also been able to provide tissue structures with relatively high Compression Energy (E), which enables the structures to be calendered at high loads without significant loss of sheet bulk or degradation of strength.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a soft and resilient tissue product comprising the steps of:
a. forming a fiber slurry;
b. depositing the fiber slurry on a forming fabric;
c. partially dewatering the slurry to form a wet tissue web;
d. transferring the wet tissue web to a through-air drying fabric comprising a support structure and a plurality of linear elements extending in the z-direction therefrom, the elements having a height from about 0.4 to about 0.7 mm;
e. through-air drying the wet tissue web to form a dried tissue web; and
f. calendering the dried tissue web and winding the calendered web into a rolled tissue product having a Roll Firmness less than about 7.0 mm and a sheet bulk of 15.0 cc/g or greater.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of calendering is carried out by passing the dried tissue web through a nip created by a steel roll and a polyurethane roll, the nip having a nip load from about 20 to about 200 pli.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the rolled tissue product has a caliper greater than about 550 μm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the rolled tissue product has a TS7 less than about 10.5 and a TS750 less than about 85.0.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the rolled tissue product has a Caliper Under Load (Co) from about 9.5 to about 10.5 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the rolled tissue product has a Compression Energy (E) from 0.0130 to about 0.0150 J/mm2.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of linear elements comprise a continuous line element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the continuous line elements have a pair of planar sidewalls and a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the continuous line elements are similarly sized.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the continuous line elements have a width (w) from about 0.5 to about 0.8 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the continuous elements are spaced apart from one-another from about 2.5 to about 4.0 mm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the continuous elements form a wave-like pattern and are evenly spaced apart from one-another from about 2.5 to about 4.0 mm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the continuous elements have a wavelength ranging from about 50 to about 200 mm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of linear elements comprise continuous line elements having a rectangular cross-section and a width from about 0.9 to about 1.5 mm, the continuous line elements arranged in a wave-like pattern with adjacent continuous line elements evenly spaced apart from one another from about 3.0 to about 4.5 mm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the product has a TS7 vale from about 9.0 to about 10.5.